Chapter 49 - Troubles Coming One After Another

Plate Town Guard Headquarters and Detention Facility, a local government building located at the town's Inn and Tavern Street.

Just as its name suggests, this is where the law enforcers of the town detain people charged with various violations--from petty theft, physical injury, to murder and in extreme cases, treason--before being sent to the capital for trial. While this place should give an imposing feeling that would be a good deterrent for any wrongdoers, this place is more commonly called in the town as the 'Criminal's Inn', mainly because of the vicinity where it stood and the purpose of this building to 'accommodate' potential inmates just like what ordinary inns do. Such is the reason why the authorities, wanting to create a positive image among the citizens at the same time, decided to renovate the building to make it look like the way people imagine it. And after ten or so years, the 'Criminal's Inn' still has a steady stream of 'customers'.

"You--get up there and get out of your cell! You have visitors waiting outside," the detention officer tapped the wooden barrier violently while yelling at a young man from outside the cell.

The young man, woken up by the rattling noise and the unpleasant voice of the officer, shifted his body as he still lie down on the floor grunting faintly.

"You brat! How could you still sleep soundly at that state?!" The officer said in disbelief to him.

Sleeping on the cold, hard, and dry concrete, without any cushion or blanket to cover his body, the young man sluggishly got up. With a lock of hair still standing up from the top of his head, he looked at the officer and spoke.

"Is it already morning...?"

"The sun's already high up in the sky. From the looks of it, you seem to be enjoying your stay inside that cell."

"I don't actually enjoy it, but I don't hate it either."

"Do you really want your visitors to wait that much, you silly brat?! If you won't come out immediately then I'll lock you up there forever!," the officer yelled at him, feeling impatient.

Upon hearing the word 'visitors', the young man's sleepy expression instantly vanished, and hurriedly seized the handle of the gate.

"Did they finally arrived--wait, I'll get out now, okay? H-Hey, wait!!!"

-----

After walking along a narrow corridor, the two men finally arrived at the visiting quarters, that is made to look like an ordinary tavern. Sitting on a long table on the corner are two young-looking people, an elder brother and his sister. The two of them sported a stoic look on their faces upon meeting the young man, as if they're looking at burnable trash.

Sitting in front of the two, the young man tried to speak but he got interrupted by the man in front of him.

"Looks like you finally learned some sort of lesson...Ren Mortel."

Yes. The one who just woke up from sleeping inside a jail cell is obviously, me. The young man in front of me, Saku, really went with his promise as he immediately sent me to prison after the incident at the Sandy Fish stockroom. Thus, I spent the whole night inside my cell which the warden said, formerly belonged to a detainee who got executed at the capital last year for molesting several women and children.

"..." I couldn't say anything as I don't want to further incriminate myself to the case.

Ren Mortel, 16 years of age, arrested for destruction of private property.

If newspapers exist in this world maybe my name, if not on the headlines, would be on the page where the ads for cheap b.r.e.a.s.t implants and other dodgy stuff would take up more space than the actual news itself. Oh, how unfortunate am I...

"Although we asked the authorities to send you here as a result of the incident, we don't want you to rot here for so long. Hence, we asked the town chief for a compromise," Saku said.

"Compromise? What compromise?"

If they are able to do that, it means that these two have some sort of connections with the town chief. It doesn't seem that the town chief is a relative...just a good friend, maybe?

"In short, Brother Ren," Saki inserted, "you're free again--but at a cost."

"And...what is the compromise you're saying?"

"Community service!" Saki exclaimed.

'Ehhhh', my eyebrows frowned at that instant.

"What's wrong, Brother Ren? You don't want to do community service?"

"No, no, that's not it," I replied in panic. "I'm just wondering what kind of community service would that be."

While I'm happy as there's an alternative option aside from being imprisoned, I just can't erase the possibility that they're scheming of something else in their minds.

"Hmm, let's see...well, aside from cleaning the streets and doing paint jobs around the neighborhood, you are also tasked to run errands for the neighbors as well--all free of charge," Saku announced.

"Eh? Ehhhhh?!"

My voice came out unexpectedly in shock.

"T-Then, how long would it last...?"

"Until you're finally be able to pay the damages, of course!"

"But, how could I be able to pay if I won't be paid?!"

Does that mean, I'll do it forever?! Hey--

When I asked them that the siblings, looked at each other for a moment, then spoke in unison as they turned their gazes back at me.

""That, is for you to find out.""

-----

"...WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! BIG BROOOOTHEEEEEERRRRR!!!!!"

After finishing all the required doc.u.ments for my release, I went out in a hurry to find Aoi sitting on a bench under a tree, sobbing. When our eyes met, all of her emotion went loose, and she ran and jump towards me as her tears spill out.

"...I thought that they would take big brother away from me, so i was scared...UWAAAAAHHHH!!!! I DON'T WANT BIG BROTHER TO LEAVE MEEEEE!!!!!"

"A-Aoi...you're breaking my neck..." I tried to calm her down as her arms wrap tightly around my neck, suffocating me.

The way she clung herself at me, it made me remind of a koala clinging on a branch.

"...NO! NO, NOOOOOOOO! I WON'T LET GO OF BIG BROTHER!!!" She strongly refused, her ponytails swaying as she shook her head.

"T-This girl..."

"She's been like that since yesterday," Saku told me.

When the authorities came yesterday I saw Aoi desperately trying to block their path with her small body, while telling them that she won't let them take me away. I got worried at first that she'll use her power in front of many people but in the end she didn't, and helplessly let them do their job.

"She haven't eaten anything since that time and she also haven't slept either, Aoi just locked herself up in your room the whole night."

Hearing the story from Saku, I imagined how hard it is for her, even for just a day, to be separated from me. Her extreme attachment to me is, really something.

"Seeing Aoi like that...it made me feel guilty and sad. I don't know what would happen to me if I were to lose Big Bro," Saki placed her hand on her chest as she spoke.

Struggling in life without any parents or other relatives to help take care of the younger ones, it really is hard for any elder brother or sister to be separated from his or her sibling.

"After deliberating, Saki and I decided not make any matters worse for all of us. While we want you to take responsibility for your actions, we don't want Aoi to live in sorrow because of that. We believe that's the best course of action for now."

"I see. Thanks, and I hope you forgive me for everything that happened."

Saku grinned. "As long as you fulfill the requirements for your early release, we're still in the clear. Also..."

Pressing his finger on his lips, he spoke in a soft voice.

"I think you should leave it behind for the time being. The terms aren't effective yet, so use this day to compensate the time you should've spent on her yesterday."

As it turns out, Aoi's been sleeping for a while now while still clinging on me. She spent the whole night crying, after all.

"If not for your sister's sake, we won't ever think on withdrawing our complaint against you. You should be thankful."

"Yeah, yeah. I am," I nodded, while showing a wry smile at them.

-----

Though my community service starts tomorrow, it doesn't mean that I'll waste this day doing nothing, so I decided to fix the hole on our room's ceiling all by myself.

"...I won't forgive all of them..." Aoi murmured as her eyebrows furrowed.

"I could hear you Aoi, loud and clear," I said to her, while applying sealant to cover the new ceiling panel.

By the way, I just found out that beyond the wooden ceiling panels that I'm fixing right now, it's already concrete. Good thing I didn't hit my head there.

"...You're letting that slide, big brother?!" Aoi raised her voice for a moment. "They imprisoned you for a petty offense. I won't forgive them for doing injustice to my big brother!"

"What would you then, kill them?"

"...Of course!"

I sighed. "While I understand your feelings, it's not that they treated me badly yesterday. Just a loud sermon from the town chief, maybe? Other than that, there's no need for us to hold grudges against the siblings or the authorities."

"...Still, even you won't stop me from holding grudges against them. Once I get all my powers back, I'll make them regret they were born in this world."

As she said that Aoi threw the pillow she's holding down, and punched it furiously a few times.

"...Big brother should consider having that mentality too, for your own sake."

Climbing down the ladder, I quickly gave her a light flick on the forehead.

"I may be as 'evil' as you claim to be, but for my own sake I would say no. That said, I won't let you do bad things to them just because of my situation."

While she does have some point about me being imprisoned for a minor offense regardless of my defense saying it isn't intentional, I think all of this mayhem still isn't enough for me to go full berserk and demand 'justice' for the 'injustice' they've caused me. Saku already told me of the consequences, so I understand that the situation won't ever agree towards my side.

It's inconvenient sleeping on concrete floors inside the jail cell but it made me realize that in this world, particularly in this town, a law is a law no matter how trivial it is.

"Anyway, I just finished fixing the ceiling so let's go downstairs and..."

EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!

All of a sudden, a short but loud shriek resounded from outside.

"H-Hey, this is bad..."

Taking a peek from the window of our room, Aoi and I saw what's going on.

"Y-You! Don't you dare move a step, or I'll shove this blade into this woman's throat!!!" A middle-aged man threatened the onlookers with a voice that got strained due to rage and frustration.

The hostage taker, about forty years of age, was wearing rugged clothes and even at a distance, I could see his face as it was full of wounds and bruises, probably he got into a fight before he came here.

With the hostage on his left, his right hand trembled as he pointed his blade on the poor woman's neck.

Albeit it's obvious to everyone his inexperience, no one made further attempts to agitate the person, as he might hurt the woman any minute from now.

No one attempted, until--

"Hey, put that weapon down, you bastard! That woman's nothing to do with this, so let her go for heaven's sake!" A young man, probably related to the man or the hostage, tries to calm down the hostage taker.

Wait, that guy--

"S-Saku?!?" I shouted upon seeing a familiar figure diving straight into danger.

"Shut up, shut up!" The hostage taker shouted. "It's because of you, that my life became like this!"

"Hey, hey, this isn't good...I need to go down there!"

Just as when I'm about to get out of the room, Aoi stopped me. Without saying anything, she only shook her head.

"Aoi..."

Tilting her head sideways, she gestured me to stay, and just watch how the situation would unfold.

"Because you didn't let me loan more money, that those loan sharks are now after me! I am a friend of your father so you, as his son should help me on my problem!" The hostage taker yelled at Saku, blaming him.

Seriously? You had a huge debt to a loan shark no less, and you asked another person for another loan just to pay the first? I wonder how and where did that person got the balls to accuse Saku for ruining his life...

"I know that you and Father are friends for a long time, but it doesn't mean you'll use that for your own selfish needs," Saku firmly replied at him.

'Besides, you're not even paying, and you're just wasting the money on alcohol and women!,' he added.

"Shut up! Shut uuuuuupppp!!! How dare you try to lecture me on how to live my life?!" The hostage taker shouted like a ferocious beast.

"It's because I have this little remaining respect for you, that I'm telling you this!"

"Saku..." I muttered in worry.

I often see that guy joking around, but it's my first time seeing him like that. Maybe because his family is involved here, that he had to confront the person in front of him.

Saku clenched his fists as he shouted. "You have a problem with me, right? I could give you another loan, just don't do anything to that woman!"

Hearing that, the hostage taker laughed mockingly at him.

"What am I, a fool?! It's too late now for any negotiations!"

"Big Bro! I already called the authorities! They're coming here soon!"

With her bright red hair shaking against the wind as she run in a hurry towards her brother, Saki tightly clung on her brother's arm.

"Saki? Why are you here, you should be inside right now?!" Saku expressed his shock, as he didn't expect his little sister to go out.

"But I don't want to just hide inside Sandy Fish, I want to help Big Bro!" Saki shook her head violently.

A few moments later, heavy footsteps were heard on the streets.

"You're surrounded by our forces. Drop your weapon, and let go of your hostage. We'll promise you won't be hurt as long as you peacefully surrender," one of the men in uniforms spoke at the hostage taker using a cardboard sheet shaped into a cone.

Just like Saki said, she did sent some knights to the scene. Upon their arrival, the situation really has snowballed into a huge mess.

"Silence! You're not involved in our problem, so you guys shut up and go back!" The hostage taker yelled at the knight.

"I'm afraid we can't do that," the knight replied. "It is part of our duty to get involved in disputes like this, especially when there's uninvolved people in danger."

"S-Shit!" The hostage taker cursed from under his breath. He looked around, and when he saw that he really is surrounded, he grew more desperate.

"I-I told you, stay away--or I'll really kill this woman!"

"Don't do anything rash, mister. Men, keep everyone including this two at a safe distance. Team 2, standby..."

The knight, who apparently is the leader, gave his orders while watching the hostage taker's movements.

"Are you aware that what you're doing would bring you more problems in the future? If you surrender peacefully, your charges might lessen--"

"I don't care! I don't care! if I'm going down here, I might as well take someone with me!!!"

At that moment, everyone gasped their breaths.

"Gaaaaahhhkkkkk--!!!"

Just before he could drive his blade into the woman's neck, a knight slyly went behind him and hit the back of his thigh with a wooden baton. The strike caused the hostage taker to lose grip of the knife, and the weapon fell a few meters away from him.

"You're under arrest!!!" The knights then swiftly restrained the hostage taker while others took the woman into safety.

Because of the sudden turn of events, almost everyone became speechless. They don't know what will happen if what the knights' actions bore a different result.

"Saki, it's okay now, everything's been taken care of," Saku spoke to his sister, as the little girl covered her eyes.

"Ahh, that was intense," I sighed while still watching from the window. "But now I'm relieved that the situation would return to...--"

The onlookers panicked at that instant. The hostage taker, while his hands are being tied with a rope, suddenly went berserk and headbutted the knights restraining him. He then took a swore from one of them and quickly lunged towards the direction where Saku and Saki are standing.

"YOU TWO! I WILL KILL YOUUUUUUU!!!!!"

"Damn it! I need to save them!!!"

In extreme panic I almost jumped outside the window just to arrive there as fast as possible. However, for some reason Aoi stopped me again.

"A-Aoi?! W-Why are you--"

*snap*

At a snap of her fingers, everyone outside went into a greater state of shock.

"The hostage taker collapsed!"

"W-What the hell happened?!"

"Checking vital signs...there was no pulse?!"

Upon hearing the knight's words, silence covered the place. Saku and Saki, became petrified at the sight of the man collapsing and unexpectedly dying in front of them.

"A-Aoi...how did you--"

When I tried to ask Aoi what's going on, she--

"...Behold, big brother. My finest work, my hidden legacy..."

Looking outside the window she then raised her arms up wide, and declared with an exhilarating expression showing on her face:

"...The Death Goddess' gift to the world--[Sacred Curses]!"

Sacred...what?